Praise God!

We had about 10+ kids give their life to the Lord this morning at Vacation Bible School and last night at our youth rally, we had about 50 kids there. Some gave their life to Christ and some repented from their ways. Praise God! Thanks for praying!

Colorado experiences

We rafted down the Gunnison even tho it was like minus 5 degrees...well, not really but it felt that way. it was freezing. I got to paddle with Hope (the girl on far right) in a 2 person duckie and it was so much fun. We went down Psychadelic Falls which was about a class3 that day on our own and i thought i almost lost Hope but she thankfully held on.

This is Papa Smurf on the Right. that's the church van that i've been allowed to drive. it's a challenge!

Here we are at the Black Canyon. it's behind us, tho not very black!

Me enjoying the sights and wind tho it got alot hotter later and I was sweating like a ninja!

This is Colorado!

Driving down from Crested Butte. I think this is the Ohio River or something like that. Isn't it amazing? Completely breathtaking! Ahhhh!!!

Colorado Adventures!

We went hiking on "Oh Be Joyful" in Crested Butte and had to cross a river. I thought I was going to fall in coz of the current! Thanks to Ashley my trusty hand holder, i made it thru!!












Here are the 4 of us after frolicking amongst the daisies and the dandelions in Crested butte, by the trail

This is the view before the Black Canyon. This is near the Blue Mesa.

A New Week

Last week was def an adventure. Thanks to all who prayed for our first week here. It was def tiring as we had to move a bunch of stuff for THE GREAT GIVEAWAY! This is an anual give-away that Trinity Baptist does. They give everything FREE to the needy around this area. It was so amazing to be able to give things FREE! Of course none of the things were mine so that might have been easier to see things go. I wonder if I could ever just give away my things...and my good things too! I felt like it really reflected what Acts talks about, where believers gave everything...That's what I love about this church, they try their hardest to do what the Bible says.

Some of you may know that I have been thinking about being baptized for a while. I've waited for my 21st year to do so. I think have finally found a place that I want to be baptized. Here. I truly believe in what this church does for its community and what it strives to do within the church. I have been so challenged since I've been here.

Pastor Willie talked about "purpose" this Sunday. He is inspirational just like Tracy Turner. He asked this question: "What is your purpose and are you doing what really matters?" "Matters" being the key word.

I guess coming here, I've just been waiting to see what God is going to show me and is showing me, but I have not really prayed about my purpose, and the fingerprints I want to leave behind. I either read this or heard this, but the rock that's at the bottom of a mountain, is just as important as the one on the top. Now, granted, I'm afraid to be the one on the top, but I'll surely love to be the one on the bottom. I want to change life, the way we have been so caught up in.

My mentor here is so much like Jenny Schmitt and I'm so thankful. She does not have a TV in her house nor a computer because she said that whenever those things get in your life, you forget to spend time with your husband/ children. How amazing is that?? Every night when her husband comes home, they all spend time together...no chores or work-doing but just playing, reading, teaching together. Doing life. It's so inspiring.

I'm trying my best to not watch TV or movies here. I want to drink in all that is Colorado and how God is speaking to me thru nature. I truly feel like I'm in God's backyard.

I went to the Black Canyon yesterday and just saw how amazing this Canyon is. It took years for the Gunnison river to carve it but it's so beautiful. It is 2200ft deep. We stood on the top and we could still hear the rushing waters of the Gunnison below. I thought to myself about that verse in Revelation 1 where it talks about God's voice being rushing waters. Even at 2200ft away, I could hear it. God's voice must be much louder. Woah!


Anyways, I'm off to do some work. Love you all!

Oh, this week we are preparing for VBS. Please pray for my roomie. she is very sick.

A wintery mix

So I've been in Colorado for about a week and God's already showing me how pieces of my life in the past have all been for a purpose.

Firstly, thanks for all the birthday wishes! I'm officially 22 and have been moping about being so old. One of the girls here, Ashley says that I might as well be put in a nursing home since I complain so much. Turning older is definately a good thing but it also challenges me to walk even closer to my Father. I usually make lists of things I want to do in my "new year" and have unfortunately not done that yet. I have yet to pray about what God is challenging me to do this year.

I probably had the best birthday yesterday in years. most of you know that i don't like birthdays very much because they are usually bad hahah..but yesterday, it SNOWED! and that was probably the highlight of my day! I also got to have a party with some college students and my other team mates. I had CAKE and it was home made with a million candles and it was amazing because it showed me that people cared for me =) I know that's so cheesy but really...usually birthdays are celebrated by your family members but here I am in Gunnison, Colorado with people I've only known for a week and yet, they embraced me and made me cake! it's amazing!

I was also supposed to be baptized yesterday in the Gunnison River but it was too cold so that will come some time in the summer. I am so excited to make a public confession of my faith and I'm so glad I've waited after my 21st year to make this decision. I am ready.

On Wednesday, I led worship for the youth and absolutely loved it. I played the guitar for 3 songs that I've never done on the guitar before so that was definately God working. I think I'll stick to the piano in the future hahah. I also got to have some interesting conversations with some kids. Youth here means 6th grade -12th grade but mostly 6th grade which is right up my alley. Praise God! This is where I saw God piecing parts of my life together. In the past, I worked at a sushi place called Miyako's. I didn't really enjoy working there but I knew I was put there for a reason. There were no believers working there so I thought it would be a good opportunity to share. One of the hostesses I worked with was in Middle school/high school and she practiced Wicca. I was the only other person who knew she practiced Wicca besides her best friend. That was God opening the door for me to share, so I thought. But really, it was God teaching me about how to face people who believe in other things.

The youth here are not your everyday church-going Christians. They are from rough backgrounds. Most of them do not truly believe in Christ. Their parents are either non believers or are abusive or neglective. A church van goes around to pick them up so you can see how their parents don't really care if they go to church or not. Well, one of the girls I met this week, through Divine appointment, told me that she practiced Wicca.

From my previous experience, I had researched about Wicca from websites and so on so I kinda know what I'm up against. This particular girl I can sense, just wants to feel like she belongs and that she's cool. A definite identity crisis here. However, I am so blessed to have met here and talked with her. I am going to pursue this friendship. Please pray that God will open doors for me to share with her about God and to really show her what Wicca is about and how it is from Satan.

That's this week's update so far! I am teaching 3rd-5th this Sunday and am really excited. As for today and tomorrow, we are having "THE GREAT GIVEAWAY" at church. It is like a huge yard sale but everything is FREE!!!! Isn't that amazing? THis is what the church should be doing!! Offering up everything for FREE! Just as Acts says that all the believers had everything in common. They shared everything and even sold all that they had! God provides!

Have a wonderful week!

Rock Climbing and Such

Life is good.

We went up to Crested Butte yesterday to watch Pirates of the Carribean...hahah...it made more sense the 2nd time. It felt weird going to a movie theatre. It felt like...civilization. Not that there isn't any here but the mountains sometimes give you a sense of being far from technology etc.

One of the things I love most about this place is the peacefulness. Even though we are still not on a routine yet, which makes me ansy, the mountains def gives me peace.

Tomorrow is our first day working at the church. I'm really excited to be finally doing something. I am such the do-er. I am working with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders instead of what I was previously assigned. I'm excited but nervous. I've got 6th grade down but the younger ones are a little harder to relate to and you always have to be high energy for those ones. I think I will have about 7 kids.

I am really excited about leading worship sometime this week. I miss the piano sooo much and I miss singing terribly. I am tempted to just go to church and worship which I might sneak in and do. I'm trying not to be too independent and leave the other girls out but I truly just want to make the most of this experience.

We went hiking yesterday and rock climbing and I felt totally secure in God's arms. It was amazing. I didn't want to seem like I was showing off to the other girls who are not as outdoorsy as I am if you can even call me that, but I love like climbing and fishing and all that jazz. I hope that I don't go too fast here.

My roomie is really sweet. She's having some homesickness but I'm sure all of us will get into gear once we have things to do.

Anyways, hope you have a wonderful wknd. Pics coming soon, when I can figure out how to load them.

Have yet to see my moose. *sigh*

Love you all!

"Holiness is the evidence that changes the world"

Dear God,

I cannot describe to you how my heart feels right now. I feel you in every breath that I take, even the hard ones after walking up stairs, I feel you in the wind even on this hot-sun-shining day. I feel you in the majesty of Pike's Peak and the ranges of mountains that remind me of borders around stationary. They follow me wherever I go and bring a sense of comfort, that even while creating them, you allowed them to outline this beautiful place. I feel your breath in the blessing of arriving at the airport, with my belongings and being able to meet missionaries from all over the place, with one desire, that is to hear your voice, to know your heart and to heal.

Thank you for the girls you have opened my heart to love. I thought at first I was going to be the odd one out, being the only one from Charlotte, but you have proved me wrong. Your love does not see state lines or accents, Your love is One in the body. Thank you for their sweet hearts, their struggles and their tears. I know it's so hard to be away from home for them and not have neccesities. Please keep them strong through their wait for their belongings, and continue to teach us that our security is not in material things but in You.

Father, I feel you in each moment here and I struggle and ask myself why can't I feel your presence when I am back home. I see how far away I am from your voice when my life is going at 80 miles per hour. Oh Lord, my prayer is that I will find you even when I'm miles away from here, in everything. Lord, help me know your heart while I am here and I know that you do not need to use me. I only pray that I will see more of you, to be brought to humility, to know that even one glimpse of your purpose will silence the pride I have to live my life the way I want to live it. God, forgive me.

Be with me each day, that Your holiness may be seen through me and that it will infect all who have never met you and inspire those who have. You are awesome God, You are majesty.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.